Four States Commonwealth

For a list of all Commonwealths in the Fallout universe, see Commonwealths.

The Four States Commonwealth

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The Four States Commonwealth was one of the thirteen commonwealths of the pre-WarUnited States of America. Created in the mid 21st century, it was comprised of the former states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. In 2247, the former state of Arizona served as the birthplace of Caesar's Legion, a ruthless organization that quickly rose to dominate the majority of the Four States region.

As told by Randall Clark, at the start of the war Salt Lake City suffered thirteen direct nuclear strikes. Clark survived by taking refuge in Zion National Park. He eventually returned to find the city "mostly craters and warped steel girders where the buildings were." Unable to find the remains of his family, he returned to Zion, a place where many sought shelter in the years following the War.

The following is based on Van Buren and has not been confirmed by canon sources.

In 2062, many Mormon congregations came together to purchase places in Vault 70, a Vault-TecVault in Salt Lake City. Vault 70 opened in 2190 and its residents use their three G.E.C.K.s to found the city of New Jerusalem in the ruins of Salt Lake City.

Most of the cities in Utah were destroyed in the Great War in 2077 and most of the state's current inhabitants are tribals (including the powerful Hecate of Ouroboros and the Blackfoot tribe). Burnham Springs, with its horrible mutants is also located within the former borders of Utah.

New Jerusalem's intolerant prophet and apostles repeatedly voted to remain isolated from outsiders, failed communities, refugees, and tribals. In 2233, a number of angry tribals, raiders, and disassociated attackers ganged up on New Jerusalem, sacking it and killing most of the inhabitants in the process.

The new living prophet, Judah Black, led most of the remnants of the Mormon community north to Ogden, Utah, where they established the settlement of New Canaan.

The balance of power in the state is not clear due to conflicting information. Caesar claims to control most of "The Utah," and both Dead Sea and Vulpes Inculta mention being from there. As both are in their thirties, it is clear that the Legion has maintained a presence there for some time. The extent to which they control the territory is not known, but many tribes throughout the state, such as the White Legs and the Dead Horses, live in the shadow cast by the Legion's fearsome reputation. According to Jed Masterson, the northern reaches of Utah are controlled by fierce raider groups like the 80s that straddle the line between tribe and gang.

As of 2281, Zion Canyon remains independent, despite encroachments by tribal agents of the Legion. The Grand Staircase, another pre-War national park, also remains free, and is considered by Daniel as a possible evacuation site for the Sorrows, should Zion fall to the White Legs. Dead Horse Point also remains independent, thanks to the intervention of Joshua Graham by leading the Dead Horses away from the Legion. At some point in the first half of 2281, New Canaan was destroyed by the White Legs (aided by Ulysses), acting on Caesar's orders, in order to punish Joshua Graham, Caesar's former Legate. The Mormons scattered to the winds with the White Legs in hot pursuit.

At some point before Fallout: New Vegas, the Courier visited Utah, as is mentioned in comments regarding the current situation of area with Jed Masterson at the beginning of Honest hearts.

Before the war, Mr. House, RobCo, and Vault-Tec created a PDQ-88b SecuritronVault under the future location of The Fort. After the war, Arizona was badly fragmented with each town fighting others just to survive. Raul Tejada recalls that it was so bad, you couldn't trade with a town two miles down the road without getting attacked by raiders.

Caesar claims that all of New Mexico belongs to him, this is supported by several of the slaves such as Siri. However, whether the entire state actually belongs to him or only part is not known. The Legion started before their encounters with the NCR turned Caesar's attention westward, but have continued until the Courier meets Caesar. Siri claims the Legion overran her town in 2278.

The following is based on Van Buren and has not been confirmed by canon sources.

In 2281, the Legion controls the eastern and southern portion of Colorado and captures many of its dogs on the streets of Denver, now known as Dog City. According to Legate Lanius, the conquest of Denver was a Pyrrhic victory, owing to the harsh climate, overtaxed supply lines, and a lack of tribal stock to replenish their slave population. The brutal and costly campaign left a strong impression on Lanius and served to slow the Legion's expansion, at least for a time. The Handogs were from here before their assimilation into the Legion. The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel were also stretched out as far as Colorado, though the state of the Brotherhood (as hinted in Fallout 3) and rise to power of the Legion leaves a questionable approach to the current status of their power in the region. Joshua Graham states that he has never heard of Legate Lanius, which suggests that either he was simply unaware of him or that the Legion conquered Colorado between 2278 and 2281.